The last of the guests trickled out just after six.
Everyone seemed to linger in the threshold one last handshake, a lingering glance at the necklace, polite congratulations that meant nothing.
Only when the echo of laughter and heels faded at last did Claire draw the main doors shut with a click you could feel in your bones.
She locked up herself, jaw set, keys rattling. "Let me," she said when Gabriel tried to help. "Go make sure Marcus hasn't left anything behind."
In the back corner, Marcus was zipping up a battered leather bag. "Anything else?" he called out, glancing over one shoulder.
Gabriel shook his head. "Just the cases. Leave those for me."
"Nah, I've got it," Marcus insisted. His hands moved quickly, double-checking the clasps. "You look dead on your feet. Go join the others."
Sarah was waiting by the side exit. As she gathered her coat, she turned and squeezed Ethan's arm, the way she'd done before exams years ago. "You still breathing?" she murmured.
